Propeller



July 21, 1931. DICKS 1,815,191

PROPELLER Original FiledDec. 31, 1 927 INVENTOR Ma /1W awmq mmz w W Patented an 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. DICKS, OF PITTSBIJ'RGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PITTSBURGH SCREW AND BOLT CORPORATION, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA PROPELLER Original application filed December 31, 1927, Serial No. 244,021. Divided and this application filed August 23, 1929.

- it is necessary to remove a portion of the hub, or, the hub may be so constructed that it has a screw threaded engagement with the blade. Both constructions are open to innumerable objections, in the one instance where the hub is in sections and it is necessary to release one of the blades, the other blade is likewise released, and in the screw threaded -method it is sometimes difiicult to correctly pitch one blade relative to the other blade.

My invention has among its objects the overcoming of the objections above noted and to provide a hub construction which w1ll allow the ready removal of a blade without in any manner aflecting the other blade. Another object is the provision of a hub construction which is so formed as to materially reduce its cost of manufacture.

Another object includes .a propeller hub which is positive in operation, fool proof, and

. with no parts which are liable to be easily broken, and which is generally superior.

With the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features all as shown in certain embodiments in the accompanying drawings, described generally and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a propeller mcorporating the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional-view on the line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line I IIIIII of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Serial No. 387,898.

Referringnow with particularity to the drawings showing the improved propeller and hubFigure 1 designated in its entirety by C shows the improved hub with the improved propeller in place.

The improved hub is adapted to secure a pair of blades 6. The number of blades is not a feature of the invention, as the hub may be constructed to include any number of blades. Referring now to Fig. 2, the said hub is adapted to receive the shank 32 of the blade 6. The shank of the propeller blade is adapted to surround and receive within the same a portion of the hub.

The hub shown in Figure 2 includesa shaft receiving sleeve 2, which is provided with a tapered bore 3 and with one or more key ways 4, whereby the same may be received upon an engine shaft. Carried upon the periphery of said sleeve is the member 5, which constitutes the blade shaft receiving portion of the hub. In this instance two blades are provided and there will be two shank receiving portions, one for each blade.

Referring to Figure 4, it will be noted that the sleeve 2 is provided with a lurality of spaced longitudinally extending ey ways or slots 6, and that the blade shank receiving portion 5 isprovided with a plurality of keys 7, for reception within said key ways of the sleeve. It is, therefore, evident that this construction permits the shank receiving portion to be tightly secured to the sleeve so that rotation of the sleeve produces rotation. of the shank receiving portion. The propeller blade shank receiving portion 5 is hollow in form and is provided with one or more rows of segmental shoulders 30. These segmental shoulders 30 of a given group, (assuming a group of three as shown in Figure 3) all lie in substantially the same plane. In other words, the shoulders do not provide what may be termed a screw thread. The tubular shank 32 of the propeller blade I) is provided on its inner surface with one or more rows of segmental shoulder portions 31 which are adapted to co-operate and engage with the segmental shoulders of the hub or shank receiving portion 5. In this connection it is of course necessary that the spacing between receiving portion be such as to permit the' segmental shoulders of the blade shank to pass therebetween. The blade shank is formed with a longitudinal split for a portion thereof as shown at 33. Lugs 34 and 35 are formed on the propeller shank at opposite ends of the split portion 33, with corresponding lugs on the opposite side of said split; said lugs being arranged in cooperating pairs with aligned bores.

If we assume that two blades are used and that the blade shanks surround the shank receiving portions of the hub and are turned so that the segmental shoulders of both the propeller shank and the shank receiving portions of the hub are in co-operative engagement as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 and that bolts 36 which pass through the aligned openings in the co-operating pairs of lugs 34 and 35, are tight, the blade will be rigidly secured to the hub. The pitch of the blades in relation to each other and to the hub shank may be readily secured before bolts 36 are tightened.

The nuts used on bolts 36 may be of the castellated type with the usual cotter'pin or pins for securing the same in locked engagement.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is 1. In combination with a propeller hub having cylindrical blade shank receiving projections extending radially therefrom, and provided with outwardly projecting segmental shoulders, propeller blades each having a hollow cylindrical shank adapted to surround one of said shank receiving projections; each shank being split longitudinally and provided with shoulders on its inner surface adapted to engage the shoulders on the shank receiving projections and external means for clamping the blade shanks to the shank receiving projections.

2. In combination with a propeller hub having cylindrical blade shank reciving projections extending radially therefrom and provided with outwardly projecting segmental shoulders arranged in the same plane; propeller blades each having a hollow cylindrical shank adapted to engage one of said shank receiving projections and provided with inwardly projecting segmental shoulders arranged in the same plane and adapted to engage the shoulders on the blade shank receiving projections and external means for clamping the blade shanks to the shank receiving projections.

3. In combination with a propeller hub having cylindrical blade shank receiving projections extending radially therefrom and provided with outwardly projecting segmental shoulders arranged'in the same plane; propeller blades each having a hollow, longitudinally split cylindrical shank adapted to engage one of said shank receiving projections, each of said blade shanks being provided with inwardly projecting segmental shoulders adapted to co-operate and engage with the corresponding shoulders of said shank receiving portions, and external means for clamping the blade shanks to the shank receiving projections.

4. In combination with a propeller hub having cylindrical blade receiving portions extending radially therefrom and provided with outwardly projecting aligned segmental shoulders; propeller blades, each having a hollow, longitudinally split cylindrical shank provided with cooperating lugs at the opposite end of said split in said shank; said blade shanks having inwardly projecting aligned segmental shoulders adapted to cooperate and engage with the shoulders on the shank receiving portions and having the holding surfaces thereof located in planes that are perpendicular to the major axes of the blade and means extending through aligned openings in the lugs for clamping the blade shank to the shank receiving portion.

5. In combination, a propeller hub having hollow cylindrical blade receiving projections extending radially therefrom, each projection being provided with a series of segmental shoulders extending from the outer surface thereof, the shoulders in each series lying ina plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said blade receiving projections, propeller blades each having a longitudinally split cylindrical socket on the end thereof adapted to fit over one of the blade receiving projections, each socket having a series of segmental shoulders extending inwardly from the inner wall thereof adapted to engage the shoulders of said blade receiving projection for preventing longitudinal movement of said blade, and clamping lugs, on opposite sides of said split for locking said blade around said blade receiving projection.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of August,

THOMAS A. DICKS. 

